FEATURES

“Value Added” — The Key To Profitability

So what is “value added” and how do we know what is adding value versus adding costs?

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Tooling

Bar Feeders And Workpiece Surface Finish

Quality surface finish of a part is not only dependent on the turning machine itself, but also on the barstock loading and support system. The bar feed system becomes critical to the surface finish outcome by enabling the turning machine to create the desired finish and/or by protecting the existing finish.

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Efficiency Hits Home Like A Ton Of Briquettes

As a manufacturer of aluminum extrusions offering a range of fabrication and machining processes for aluminum-based products, the company is now turning its aluminum chips and scrap into briquettes, thanks to a new chip handling system that includes the FastPac Briquetter compacting unit from Mayfran International.                                                   

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Turning Machines

Options On A Subspindle

Subspindles can do much more than backworking. This article looks a various options currently available.

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Cutting Tools

Shop Sticks With Stick Tooling

Who says we can’t be competitive on simple parts? The secret for making it happen at one Connecticut shop is the combination of modern CNC Swiss-type machines and good old-fashioned “stick” tooling.

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Technical Member Profile: Schmolz+Bickenbach

Schmolz+Bickenbach presence in United States began in 1990 when Ugine, a French steel producer, bought Alloy & Stainless, a stainless steel distribution company based in Colmar, Pennsylvania. After several name changes and owners, the company now distributes and manufactures specialty stainless bar products in North America.

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Turning Machines

Vertical Turning Upside Down

Using the main spindle for double-duty machining and workpiece load/unload makes sense. It’s a simple idea that has grown in sophistication from turning to multitasking. This article looks at the state of the art using inverted vertical turning for precision volume production.

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Measurement

Work Flow Boosts With CMM Upgrade

This shop knew that it needed to upgrade its CMM capabilities. It was going to take a couple of DCC CMM machines with varying work envelopes and a common comprehensive software package that the technicians as well as machine operators could easily be trained on. The company initially made some inquires with CMM manufacturers, and Xspect Solutions, the North American representatives for Wenzel CMMs, was the first company to respond.

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Insights Into Vision Systems

Can you assemble an inexpensive vision system for use on precision machine products? Yes, but with limitations.

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